The first time you tried to write a screenplay, you might have been surprised at just how big a project it is. It almost always takes more time and drafts than you expect.
As they say… it’s a marathon, not a sprint.
Writing a screenplay can be an overwhelming and arduous process and there are many points along the way where you’ll be tempted to abandon the project.
So, to make sure that doesn’t happen, let’s add a few project/process tips to your tool kit. Because being able to survive the process is necessary if you want to write screenplays to completion.
These tips are culled from a newsletter written by Eric Barker, an old acquaintance of mine. In each issue he summarizes the research on a topic and makes it actionable so that it can be applied to real life. He’s covered things like productivity, parenting, relationships, how to be happier, more resilient, and even sleep better. And, yes, how to finish projects.
If you want to read the original newsletter and learn about the book he’s summarizing with these tips, you’ll find it here.
And here’s my take on the five tips he provides, adapted for screenwriting.
1. Ask “Why?”
It’ll be easier to stick with a screenplay through the long process and the difficult times if you have a strong sense of why you’re writing it.
As Eric says: “You need a clear sense of why you’re doing this, what you want out of it, and what that entails.” And I think that’s true.
But we also need to include an understanding of what you’re trying to do. And by that I mean what is this movie you’re writing?
Then, once you’re clear on it, write it down. Use this as your North Star. As Eric describes:
“Robert Caro is the world’s premiere biographer. Before he starts on a project he forces himself to summarize the book in just a few paragraphs. And this process is tortuous. “What is this book about?,” he asks himself. “What is its point?” He goes through endless iterations. But once he’s done, he prints that page out and pins it to the wall over his desk where it is always staring at him. He’s always looking up to make sure what he is doing is aligned with that brief summary, that he’s not getting out into the weeds.”
2. Beware Optimism Bias
There’s a particular cognitive bias called “the planning fallacy” that many of us are prone to. Basically, we consistently underestimate how long things will take. This is especially true early on in your screenwriting journey. It’s harder to accurately estimate if you don’t have a body of previous experience to draw on.
My best advice here is twofold:
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- Assume and account for a longer process than you want to. Wishful thinking doesn’t make it so.
- And make sure your deadlines are realistic before you go beating yourself up over missing them. (And maybe don’t be so hard on yourself anyway.)
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How do you know if your timeline is realistic?
3. Take the Outside View
Whatever it is that you’re doing, “People have done something like this before and you can learn from them,” as Eric points out.
So, when it comes to estimating the timeline of a project, for example, if you haven’t written many (or any) screenplays, gather some data from other screenwriters. Ask how long it took to write their first screenplay. And maybe how long it took to write their first good screenplay.
Eric again: “If you ask people what their final numbers were, not the initial ones, that accounts for all those unknown unknowns.”
Your findings may surprise you, and then you have something reality-based to inform your own process and deadlines.
4. Think Slow, Act Fast
This tip applies particularly well to screenwriting, since there’s so much pre-writing built into the process. Yes, there are some exceptions, but for most of us and in most cases, planning is going to make a huge difference in the quality of the final product.
Eric says, “Most projects don’t “go wrong”; they start wrong. … you need to slow things down and plan. Planning is working. Progress in planning is progress on the project.”
And: “A key part of planning is testing. Trying out the fundamentals in a simulation to see if they work. To address errors before they get expensive. Testing is the difference between a plan and a reliable plan.”
5. Hire An Expert
Now, on its face this tip applies more when you have a project that you simply need to get done (like a bathroom remodel), rather than one that you actually need to do yourself (like writing your screenplay).
But in screenwriting or anything else you’re learning to do, there’s value in getting feedback from someone who has some expertise and experience. They’ll be able to point out the areas that are working or not working, which is something that’s difficult to do on your own when you’re still gaining your own experience and expertise.
And, at least with screenwriting, that doesn’t mean you have to literally hire someone, either. There are writers groups, online and in person, where you can find other screenwriters to learn from and exchange feedback. My caveat about any advice, not just the free kind: keep an open mind, but make sure it’s coming from a place that’s well-informed and well-intentioned.